The Beauty of Irises

Irises are beautiful and often showy flowers. They are a wonderful attraction that I find very hard to resist. I often feel compelled to stop and admire the flowers whenever I see them in a garden or a landscaped area.

Irises are sometimes useful as well as attractive. The rhizomes of some species are known as orris roots. These are used commercially to produce a pleasant fragrance for perfumes and for items such as potpourris and natural toothpastes. Orris root is also used to flavour beverages and food. One species of iris—the yellow flag—is used as a water purifier. Unfortunately, this species can become invasive.

Irises generally bloom in late spring and early summer. Some produce flowers for a second time in late summer. The leaves of an iris plant are generally tall, narrow, and sword-shaped. Irises are perennial plants and grow from rhizomes or bulbs, depending on the species. I've described forty facts about the plants below (plus a few extra facts because irises are so interesting).

Irises growing in a landscaped area at a shopping centre | Source

Iris Flowers

1. Irises are named after Iris, the goddess of the rainbow in Ancient Greek mythology.

2. The flowers come in all the colours of the spectrum, except for red. Some irises have a dark, red brown colour, but there are no bright red irises.

3. Iris flowers have six attractive and colourful lobes. The three inner lobes are petals and the three outer lobes are sepals.

4. Most flowers have coloured petals and smaller, green sepals. When the petals and sepals are both large and colourful, as in iris flowers, they are sometimes known as tepals.

5. The three petals of an iris flower stand upright and are often referred to as standards.

6. The three sepals may also stand upright, but they more commonly spread outwards or curve downwards. The sepals are also known as falls.

7. The fruit of iris flowers takes the form of a pod. The pod contains the seeds.

The Samurai Warrior Iris is the closest thing to a red iris that exists at the moment. The beard, or row of hairs, can be seen in the middle of the sepal at the front of the photo. | Source

Iris was the Ancient Greek goddess of the rainbow. Some people have linked this idea to the many colours shown by today's iris flowers

Types of Iris Flowers

8. Irises belong to the flowering plant family known as the Iridaceae and are classified in the genus Iris. The genus is the first word in the scientific name and the species is the second.

9. A huge variety of cultivated irises have been created. In some flowers, the standards and the falls have different colours. The falls are sometimes patterned or ruffled, which often adds to the attractiveness of the flowers.

10. According to the American Iris Society, cultivated irises are divided into three groups: bearded, aril, and beardless irises.

11. Bearded irises have hairs running the centre of their falls. Aril irises are named for the white cup or collar (the aril) around their seeds. Hybrids between aril and beaded irises are called aribreds.

12. Irises are also classified into rhizome and bulb types. A rhizome is a horizontal underground stem. It has nodes that produce roots and a shoot. A bulb is a compact and highly modified stem. It has leaves (although they aren't green) and produces roots and a shoot when activated.

A Slideshow of Beautiful Iris Photos

Even though the imported garden irises are very beautiful, the 28 iris species native to the United States are beautiful in their own right.

— USDA Forest Service

The Yellow Flag Iris

13. The yellow flag iris, or yellow flag, has the scientific name Iris pseudacorus. It's a beautifuł plant with yellow flowers. The sepals are often decorated with short brown or purple streaks.

14. Yellow flag is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to North America.

15. Yellow flag grows at the edge of ponds and lakes in wet soil and shallow water. It may be as tall as five feet, although most plants are closer to three feet in height.

16. Yellow flags form dense stands above ground and thick mats of rhizomes in the soil. Since rhizomes are stems, they branch and produce shoots. They also develop roots. Very often, the yellow flags in an area are produced by the same rhizome system and are connected to each other, forming a colony.

17. The seeds of yellow flag iris were once roasted and used to make a beverage. The flowers were used to make a yellow dye and the rhizomes were used to make a black dye. The plant is toxic, however. Ingestion can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Contact with the leaves or rhizomes can irritate the skin.

Yellow flag iris flowers | Source

Yellow Flags: Beautiful Pests

18. Despite the plant's acknowledged beauty, the Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia (where I live) says that the yellow flag is "wickedly aggressive" and shouldn't be planted. The plant isn't classified as invasive in all parts of North America, however.

19. Yellow flag colonies may consist of hundreds of plants. The irises can crowd out the native plants needed by birds and wildlife. They can also block drainage and irrigation channels. In addition, their rhizome mat can trap sediments and change the nature of habitats.

20. Yellow flags spread easily. A piece of broken rhizome that is carried to a new area by water can grow roots and shoots and start another colony. Seed pods and seeds float and can be transported to new areas by flowing water.

Yellow flag irises can be useful as well as a nuisance. They purify water by removing heavy metals and nutrients in agricultural runoff with their roots.

An illustration of an iris plant and its rhizome; in a few species, the rhizome is used to produce dried and preserved orris root | Source

Orris Root Fragrance and Flavour

21. Three types of irises are used to produce orris roots commercially. These include the species Iris germanica (German iris) andIris pallida as well asthe variety known as Iris 'florentina'.

22. The word orris is thought to be a corruption of iris.

23. Technically, orris roots are rhizomes, not roots. The preserved rhizomes are brown in colour and have a woody and sometimes lumpy appearance.

24. Orris root has a scent that resembles the fragrance of violets. The root must be dried for at least three years in order to develop the best scent, however.

25. The aged root is ground into a powder and then steam distilled to obtain an essential oil. Sometimes the thick oil is known as orris butter.

26. Orris oil is added to perfumes, cosmetics, and some types of gin, including Bombay Saphire. In perfumes, it provides a base note in the fragrance. It also acts as a fixative that prevents other scents from disappearing.

27. Like many other natural products from plants, orris root is said to have a long list of health benefits. These benefits haven't been scientifically proven, however.

A multicoloured iris | Source

Orris Root Allergy

28. Prolonged exposure to orris root or its components may irritate the skin and airways.

29. Some people develop an allergic reaction when they are exposed to orris root.

30. An allergic response is a more serious disorder than an irritation and involves the release of histamIne in the body.

31. Symptoms of an orris root allergy include hay fever, asthma, and hives.

32. Hypoallergenic products don't contain orris root.

This is an iris in which the falls are not only a different colour from the standards but are also patterned. | Source

Iris flowers have been the subjects of some famous paintings, including ones by Vincent van Gough and Claude Monet.

Iris Toxicity

33. Irises are mildly to moderately poisonous for humans and animals. The poisoning is generally not fatal, but it's important to note that different individuals have different sensitivities to noxious chemicals.

34. ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) says that irises are poisonous for both dogs and cats. The organization also says that the rhizomes are the most toxic part of the plant.

35. Like yellow flag, all irises can cause salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Skin contact with any part of an iris plant can cause dermatitis.

36. The toxin in irises is called iridin.

37. Preserved orris root seems to be safe for humans in the small quantities used as a fragrance or flavouring, but the fresh parts of the plant definitely aren't.

Fleurs-de-lis at the bottom of the tomb of Robert FitzElys in St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Waterperry, Oxfordshire; the fleurs-de-lis are the red drawings on the right of the tomb | Source

The Fleur-de-Lis: Perhaps a Stylized Iris

38. Fleur-de-lis is a French term that refers to a stylized drawing of a flower. The drawing is associated with royalty and heraldry. It has also been used to represent the Virgin Mary.

39. Although the term fleur-de-lis means "flower of the lily" when translated into English, the drawing actually looks like an iris with its upright standards and drooping falls.

40. It has often been suggested that the word lis (or lys, as is sometimes used) is actually a corruption of a word associated with either the yellow flag iris or its habitat. There are different theories about what this word was, however. The yellow flag is thought to have been abundant in the wetlands of France at the time when the fleur-de-lis symbol first appeared.

Planting Bearded Irises

Irises are said to be easy to grow. I remember that we had lovely ones in our garden when I was a child. Whether they are enjoyed in a garden or in parks, iris blooms are a wonderful sight. I wish the blooming period lasted for longer, though. If the reblooming species are planted, the enjoyment in seeing the flowers can be experienced for a second time later in the summer. That is definitely something to look forward to!

Comments

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Author

Linda Crampton 5 months agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thanks for sharing the information, Barbara. Your neighbour must have been very upset about the ruined iris bed!

Barbara Radisavljevic 5 months agofrom Templeton, CA

This iris just may be my favorite flower. It is drought-resistant, easy-to-grow, and I love the smell. As far as I know, the rhizomes are not toxic to gophers. They demolished a whole bed of my neighbor's irises.

Author

Linda Crampton 5 months agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, Linda. I appreciate your visit and comment. Irises are one of my favourite flowers, too. There are so many different varieties and they are so lovely.

Linda Jo Martin 5 months agofrom Post Falls, Idaho, USA

I love this! Irises are one of my favorite flowers. People with too many could always give them to me... back when I had land to live on. I'm in an apartment now.

Author

Linda Crampton 24 months agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the comment, ChitrangadaSharan!

Chitrangada Sharan 24 months agofrom New Delhi, India

These are such beautiful flowers and their colours are so unique and bright. I loved going through the interesting facts about Irises , the pictures and the video.

Thanks for sharing this informative and interesting hub!

Author

Linda Crampton 24 months agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, Peggy. I like all the irises that I've seen. They are such beautiful flowers. Thanks for the share!

Peggy Woods 24 months agofrom Houston, Texas

Great information about the iris plants. I personally like the bearded varieties grown up north although the Louisiana irises more common in our area certainly are also beautiful. Sharing!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

I agree - the different colours of iris flowers are gorgeous! Thank you very much for the visit, Kailua-KonaGirl.

June Parker 2 years agofrom New York

I love the beautiful, exotic look of irises and am always amazed at the gorgeous variety of colors. Every time I see I new color I wish I had the space to add another variety.

Learn some things from all these facts such as didn't know that the Yellow Flag variety are so invassive. Good to know for my small gardening space.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much, adevwriting!

Arun Dev 2 years agofrom United Countries of the World

Congrats on the Most Beautiful Hub award!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you for such a kind comment, Pamela! I appreciate it very much.

Pamela Oglesby 2 years agofrom United States

It is obvious why you won the award. I have always loved Irises, and I miss seeing them in FL. Your article had a wealth of information, and it brought back memories of the irises I enjoyed when I was growing up and lived in the north. Beautiful hub.

Thank you so much, Bill. I was very happy to see that you won a Hubbie award, too!

Dora Weithers 2 years agofrom The Caribbean

Congratulations on winning the Most Beautiful Award! Keep on sharing such interesting information and beauty.

Bill De Giulio 2 years agofrom Massachusetts

Congratulations Linda. This hub is both educational and beautiful. Certainly well deserved.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much, Faith! Congratulations to you for your Hubbie award, too!

Faith Reaper 2 years agofrom southern USA

Congratulations, Linda, on this Most Beautiful Hub winning the Most Beautiful Hubbie Award! Absolutely beautiful.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thanks for the visit, Glimmer. I appreciate your comment. I'm sorry about the problem with your irises.

Glimmer Twin Fan 2 years ago

So lovely. My favorites are the bearded iris. Unfortunately many of mine have the borer which is not good. This is a really pretty hub.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

It certainly is, Suhail! I love studying nature. Thank you for the comment.

Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent 2 years agofrom Mississauga, ON

I like the way that you also treat flowers, trees, and wildlife as individual species and cover each of them individually in your hubs. But hiking for observing nature is really rewarding, isn't it?

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much, Suhail! I love observing flowers and taking photos of them, too. Like you, I see some interesting wildflowers when I take my dog for hikes.

Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent 2 years agofrom Mississauga, ON

Awesome hub!

I love flowers and take shots of wildflowers when out hiking with K2, but I tend to cover them broadly. You covered Iris as individual family, which made it very interesting to read. I haven't taken any shots of Iris yet, because I don't think I have seen them growing in the wild here.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the comment, the shares and the votes, Blond Logic. I appreciate your visit very much. It's interesting to hear about the yellow flag in Brazil!

Mary Wickison 2 years agofrom Brazil

Wow so much information about the iris. I had no idea that parts were toxic to animals and an irritant. They are one of my favorite flowers.

I live in Brazil and have only seen the yellow flag growing near lakes, although others may be here.

My cousin is a fan of irises, I'll be sharing this article with her and also on Pinterest.

Voted up and interesting.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thanks, adevwriting. I agree - irises are beautiful flowers!

Arun Dev 2 years agofrom United Countries of the World

Really beautiful images! Flowers are beautiful creations of Nature.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much, Martie. I'm happy to read your comment!

Martie Coetser 2 years agofrom South Africa

Alicia, I LOVE irises. Have a variety of colors in my garden. Thanks for this well-presented and informative hub :)

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the comment, MM Del Rosario.

MM Del Rosario 2 years agofrom NSW, Australia

I love Iris and you have a very well researched hub. very useful information. Thank you

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, Dianna. I can understand why irises evoke lovely memories! Thanks for the visit and comment.

Dianna Mendez 2 years ago

My mother had lovely irises planted in our front yard. I remembered how much I enjoyed them while reading your article. Thank you for the education on this flower.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

I agree, Mel - we certainly do tamper with nature at our own risk. Thanks for the comment.

Mel Carriere 2 years agofrom San Diego California

In Albuquerque we had irises everywhere, here in San Diego it seems like I don't see them much, our predominant landscaping flower being of the tiger lily variety. I always enjoy learning the various uses of plants. We tamper with nature at our own risk, because these plants provide so much for us, in the right balance. Great hub!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much, essie! I appreciate your visit and congratulations. I hope you're well, too.

Essie 2 years agofrom Southern California

Useful, Awesome, and Beautifu! I had no idea that Irises could be toxic to humans. Nice photos and a lot of beneficial information! Congratulations on Editor's Choice.

Hope you're well....essie

Kristen Howe 2 years agofrom Northeast Ohio

My pleasure Alicia anytime. I would love to grow them in my indoor container garden sometime.

Thank you very much for the kind and interesting comment, Flourish. Irises sound like a lovely graduation present!

FlourishAnyway 2 years agofrom USA

I learned so much from this wonderfully written and researched hub. The undergraduate university I attended had irises as a part of its 100+ year old heritage and at graduation presented students with roots so they could grow their own.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Rhynes is definitely a nicer word than ditches! I love local dialects, too.

Ann Carr 2 years agofrom SW England

It's a local Somerset word. Anyone else would call them ditches! I love local dialects and Somerset has loads, thank goodness. An old traditional area with a lovely accent and lovely people.

Ann

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the comment, Ann. I love all the different colours of irises as well. Thanks for teaching me a new word, too. I've never heard of rhynes before!

Ann Carr 2 years agofrom SW England

Thanks for all this fascinating and useful information, Linda. I love irises but didn't realise they were poisonous. I have yellow, blue and dark red ones in my garden and the yellow ones grow profusely in the irrigation ditches (rhynes) of the Somerset Levels. My favourite colour depends on the day!!

Well done for all your research on this lovely flower. Like daffodils, they bring a smile to my face when I see the beautiful petals.

Ann

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you for the comment and vote, Aladdins Cave. I hope you have a great weekend.

Aladdins Cave 2 years agofrom Melbourne, Australia

Thank for this interesting and informative Hub

LOVE Irises and have a few in our garden

Thank you and thumbs up

Cheers from DOWNUNDER

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

What a beautiful discovery, Deb! Irises can certainly be showstoppers. Thank you for commenting.

Deb Hirt 2 years agofrom Stillwater, OK

These are such distinctive and gorgeous flowers. When I went back home to Maine for a few years after my father passed, I uncovered a number of gorgeous flowers, including these, some of which I never dreamed of seeing before. They are real showstoppers and take care of themselves. Great article!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

I wish they bloomed longer, too! I feel that way about a lot of flowers. I appreciate your visit and comment, DebMartin.

DebMartin 2 years ago

Awesome and Informational. I too LOVE the iris, from the wild blue iris in my creek to the hybrids in my garden. I wish they would bloom longer.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the comment and for sharing the interesting information, Wendi!

Summer LeBlanc 2 years agofrom H-Town

Such a beautiful hub! I am not kidding when I say this- I had an Aunt Iris, sisters with my Grandmother (Pearl), and my Aunt Rose. As a child I knew what a Pearl was, and of course, what roses were. When I asked my Grandmother (Pearl) who was an avid gardener and had the most beautiful rose bushes and tulips in town why she had no Irises; her reply was 'I don't want toxic, poison things in my home, nor do I want them in my yard.' You think that she was hinting about something? LOL

-Wendi

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the kind comment, Nadine.

Nadine May 2 years agofrom Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Loved the photos, great information and your post made me ever more grateful for the irises that appear every spring in our garden.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you for the comment and the vote, poetryman. I appreciate your visit!

poetryman6969 2 years ago

There are so many things I never knew about these beautiful flowers. The image of brushing my teeth with flowers is amusing.

Voted up!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the visit and the comment, Marlene. "Intriguing" is a good word to describe irises!

Marlene Bertrand 2 years agofrom USA

Iris flowers are the most intriguing flowers to me. I have some growing in my back yard and the more I look at them the more I am intrigued. I really enjoyed reading all about them in your hub. I especially found, most interesting, the fact that their roots have to be dried for three years to produce the fragrance. I wonder how they discovered that interesting fact. :)

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, Bill. I agree - the iris is definitely a beautiful flower! I love the sound of your driveway. It must look lovely.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, Patricia. Thank you very much for the comment, the votes and the angels, which I always love. It sounds like your mother's garden was absolutely beautiful!

Bill De Giulio 2 years agofrom Massachusetts

Great hub Linda. We have Iris all around our driveway and they are blooming now. We have always had a thing for the Iris, my parents have had them for years and most of ours came from my parents yard. It really is one beautiful flower.

Patricia Scott 2 years agofrom sunny Florida

O yes...you take me back to Virginia when my Momma had iris of every shape and color growing all over our property. They have always been a favorite of mine. I have none this year but hopefully next year will have.

Great hub so full of information I did not know.

Voted up+++ Angels are on the way to you this afternoon ps

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you so much for all your support, Faith. I appreciate your comment, votes and shares very much, as I always do. I hope the rest of the weekend is wonderful for you.

Faith Reaper 2 years agofrom southern USA

I love, love, love the Iris, especially the purple. I think that is the only color I have seen here in the US.

Thank you for sharing the importance of their toxicity and to the other extreme of purifying water ...how interesting!

Your personal photos are beautiful, Linda. I guess I will call you by your real name now, being I have known it from Google, but now I see you have it here on your profile : )

Up ++++ tweeting, pinning, G+ and sharing another wonderful hub.

Blessings always

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the kind comment, letstalkabouteduc!

McKenna Meyers 2 years agofrom Bend, OR

Thanks for sharing a wealth of information and all the glorious photos!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you for the visit and the comment, colorfulone.

Susie Lehto 2 years agofrom Minnesota

I learned a lot about Irises that I didn't know before. Thank you for the education and clear warning to not meat these pretty flowers.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, Rachel. Good luck with your iris plants! Thank you very much for the comment. Blessings to you, too.

Rachel L Alba 2 years agofrom Every Day Cooking and Baking

Hi Alicia, Iris' are a beautiful flower. I am thinking about getting some for my yard. Since I saw your hub, I am really going to do it. Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thanks for the visit and the comment, Peg. I think that "gorgeous" is a great word to describe the appearance of irises!

Peg Cole 2 years agofrom Dallas, Texas

Beautiful plants with wonderful colors. They are gorgeous. We have a lot of purple flowering plants that grow in our pasture that look like the second photo. I wonder if they're irises. Thanks for the interesting facts about these flowers.

I have always had a special affection for irises, Alicia, so you know how much I loved this hub and your spectacular photos. And thanks for all the additional interesting info about this beautiful flower. Voted Up!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you very much for the visit and comment, MsDora.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, Vellur. Yes, it would be very nice if yellow flag grew in moderation! Thank you for the visit.

Dora Weithers 2 years agofrom The Caribbean

Most of the information is new to me, but the facts about allergy and toxicity are surprising. Thanks for a well-organized presentation.

Nithya Venkat 2 years agofrom Dubai

Great hub and interesting facts about Irises. If only the Yellow Flag grew in moderation it would be very useful to purify water.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thanks for the interesting comment, GarnetBird.

Gloria Siess 2 years agofrom Wrightwood, California

These grow wild here in the mts./good hub.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Hi, ologsinquito. I have fond memories of irises from my childhood, too. They are lovely plants.

ologsinquito 2 years agofrom USA

These are beautiful flowers. I remember them growing around my grandparents' house when I was young.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thanks, Rebecca. Irises are one of my favourite flowers, too. They are so lovely.

Rebecca Mealey 2 years agofrom Northeastern Georgia, USA

What a beautiful Hub, Alicia. Iris is one of my fav flowers, so I was tickled to read this.

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you so much for the comment, the votes and the share, Phyllis. I like pink irises, too, but I think that all the irises in the video are beautiful!

Author

Linda Crampton 2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

Thank you, Jackie. I appreciate your comment, the vote and the share very much.

Phyllis Doyle Burns 2 years agofrom High desert of Nevada.

I love irises and this hub is beautiful with the photos and videos. I would not be able to chooses a favorite of the many colors, but the pale pink iris in the video is gorgeous.